Terry Fox Run brings out the best in Grand Erie students

Caption: Students across Grand Erie will continue Terry Fox's legacy of hope this September

In 1977, athlete, basketball player and runner Terry Fox, a Winnipeg native, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma when doctors discovered a malignant tumour in his right leg. His leg would need to be amputated, but his dream of running didn’t stop there.

Three years later, Terry Fox completed a 143-day cross-country Marathon of Hope to raise money for cancer research, inspiring millions of Canadians with his unbreakable spirit, and transforming an improbable dream into a worldwide legacy that has continued for more than 37 years.

Since the start of the annual Terry Fox Run in 1981, it has grown to involve millions of participants in 25 countries. In Ontario alone, 4,200 schools across the province joined together to raise more $6.7 million last year for cancer research.

Grand Erie is honored to be a part of the annual Terry Fox School Run, raising almost $750,000 to date in 70 schools across the board.

Thank you to all the schools that participated in the 2016 Terry Fox School Run. Grand Erie would like to extend special congratulations to Cobblestone Elementary School, Lakewood Public School, Waterford Public School, Thompson Creek Elementary School, and Elgin Avenue Public School, which make up the top five schools in Grand Erie, raising the most money last year.

The invaluable participation of Grand Erie schools has greatly helped the Terry Fox Foundation fund more than 1,200 cancer research projects across Canada to date.

Terry’s story of courage, perseverance, and determination perfectly encapsulates who Canadians are and what Canada has become throughout its rich 150-year history. The hope is that students take Terry’s inspiration to become stewards of change, not only in their local communities, but in the global community as well. It’s time for students to give the best of themselves to Canada, just like Terry did.